Former Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) yesterday was elected the governorship candidate of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction for the November 26 governorship poll.
He scored 760 votes in the primary held at the International Event Centre, Akure, the state capital. Jegede contested with the former deputy governorship candidate of PDP in 2012 poll, Saka Lawal, who scored 22 votes. No vote was declared voided.
The exercise, which started at 9.55 am, was led by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson. He was assisted by Senator Margery Okadigbo and others. It was witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Jegede, who hailed the party’s delegates and his opponent, said the PDP is one family, adding that it would continue to open its doors for reconciliation. The PDP candidate said with dwindling economy, where prices of commodities have increased, his “target is to rebuild the state’s economy”.
Jegede and Dr. Olu Agunloye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are still the two candidates produced by their party primaries.
It was learnt the Sheriff’s camp of the PDP would have its primaries next Tuesday, near Ilesa garage, Akure.
The faction’s apspirants are Sola Ebiseni, Bamiduro Dada, Jimoh Ibrahim, Niran Sule-Akinsuyi, who defected from All Progressives Congress (APC) to PDP and the only woman aspirant, Mrs. Abiye Ademuyegun.
The APC will, this Saturday, conduct its primary election for its 24 aspirants.